$2,425.00
Retail Price: $2,425.00

Perfection
in performance. That has been the Öhlins way since 1976. We have
achieved this through an obsession with detail and quality. Every part
of the Öhlins manufacturing process sets new standards for the
automotive industry. Whether its material choice, design, manufacture
or even a small detail like packaging. Only when it is perfect can it
leave the factory. Our new R&T range finally puts Öhlins incredibly
high standards of research, development and manufacture within the
reach of the discerning enthusiast. This range is pure Öhlins, but the
good new is-you won't need a race team's budget to afford it!

For us, the relationship with our customers is usually a long and
fruitful one. We have supplied many of the top teams in motorsport, but
also thousands of genuine enthusiasts. We only manufacture to one
quality and every new client is as important as the last. In our view,
the relationship doesn’t end with that initial sale. We see our role as
providing support and back up thereafter, for as long as our client
needs it. That’s way all Öhlins units are fully serviceable and
adjustable, making sure that they give faithful and dynamic service for
years to come. Our fully trained and approved service centers can make
your old Öhlins units perform like new and even make changes in damper
characteristics to suit your set-up preferences. Remember that our road
and track range was born out of our Motorsport programme, where the
impossible has to be made possible, so you can expect the same level of
care and attention to detail on the R&T range.

The choice of materials used is one of the key factors behind Öhlins
success. Each component is surface treated to ensure reduced friction
and superior performance. The piston shaft and damper walls are
micro-finished and plateau honed for optimum lubricity and low friction
coefficient. This attention to detail is the same across the entire
range of Öhlins products. Without this fine surface finishing, excessive
friction can reduce the compliancy of the damper causing a loss of
function.

Damping rate on the R&T units is fully adjustable and ties
compression and rebound together as a matched setting, meaning that in
99% of cases, the units will work superbly, straight ‘out of the box’
with only the smallest adjustments required to suit the car or drivers
individual preferences. Despite what other suspension manufacturers may
tell you, comfort is king, even when you are trying to set-up a
competition machine. Our vast experience on events like the World Rally
Championship and Isle of Man TT races has shown us that the fastest
drivers and riders are those that aren’t being shaken to bits as they go
flat out. The ‘science of compliance’ is a hugely important part of our
design work.

And last but not least, is durability. But hey, we’re Swedish, so
chances are you have already guessed that we’re used to building
components that survive one of the toughest environments in the World.
The carbon steels bodies are salt spray tested and can service 240 hours
of abuse, whilst still retaining function. Don’t let those stunning
race car looks fool you. These are real-world units for daily driven
cars.

The Features Of DFV Technology

So what is DFV? It is Dual Flow Valve technology – and it sets us
apart from our competitors. Only Öhlins has DFV technology on its road
and track products.

With DFV, the dual flow valve gives the same characteristics on
rebound as it does on compression, thanks the damper fluid having a
consistent path of flow in both directions. This means that the wheel
and tyre can quickly and effectively resume their important position
back on the ground, providing grip and traction. The new Öhlins R&T
range uses DFV technology on every single fitment, making it the perfect
upgrade for the enthusiast that needs comfort and agility in the one
unit.

Figure
1: (Compression flow) At low shaft speeds, oil flows mostly through the
shaft jet bleed (lower dotted arrow). At higher shaft speeds, oil flows
mostly through the compression ports in the piston (upper dotted
arrow). At very high shaft speeds, or during sudden shaft accelerations,
oil can also escape through the compression ports in the DFV,
increasing comfort.

Figure 2: (Rebound flow) At low shaft speeds, oil
flows mostly through the shaft jet bleed (lower dotted arrow). At higher
shaft speeds, oil flows mostly through the rebound ports in the piston
(upper dotted arrow). At very high shaft speeds, or during sudden shaft
accelerations, oil can also escape through the rebound ports in the DFV,
maintaining tyre contact with the road.

Because DFV opens more quickly and easily on minor road
imperfections, ride comfort is surprisingly supple and more akin to an
OEM strut than a coilover set-up. Over undulating surfaces, the
compliancy of the R&T units allows the car to crest bumps and
pot-holes, whilst still keep stable and in control. Traction is always
maintained at its optimum level. When comparing suspension, why settle
for second best?

Figure
3: (Vehicle – no DFV) Without DFV the oil can not flow through the
piston quickly enough on the rebound stroke after hitting a bump, so the
tyre is not able to stay in contact with the road.

Figure
4: (Vehicle – DFV technique) The DFV valve opens, letting the oil flow
quicker through the piston on the rebound stroke after hitting a bump,
enabling the tyre to stay in contact with the road.

When adjusting ride height on coilover units, it’s worth comparing
how it’s done. On many inferior designs, height is adjusted by raising
or lowering the lower spring platform. This has the effect of
compressing or extending the spring, which can limit the suspension
travel that may cause topping out. The Öhlins method is to leave the
spring seat in its perfect position, whilst the lower flange spins
easily on the threaded body, to allow you to adjust with absolute
precision whilst maintaining the perfect characteristics that we took so
long to design in! Once you’ve set it all up, the adjuster simply locks
off to maintain your exact settings.

Dampers will get hot. That’s one thing that you can be sure of. As
the piston moves within the damper, it generates friction – and
therefore, heat. Although we can’t stop heat, we can deal with it, and
this is yet another way that Öhlins differs from the competition. As the
heat increases, the viscosity of the damper fluid can change, altering
the car’s handling characteristics. Our unique needle bleed valve
expands with temperature, closing the gap that the fluid travels
through, maintaining a consistent damping rate. The best thing of all?
You won’t even notice! All you’ll feel is that the car responds
consistently, lap after lap, turn after turn. Allowing you to
concentrate on braking points and apexes whilst the Öhlins technology
takes care of the damping.

Figure 5: Thermal Expansion

These kits all work well ‘out of the box’, but there’s still plenty
of adjustment for you to set things your way. You like stiff and
reactive? Or soft and forgiving? It’s all there. Too much low speed
rebound damping can have an adverse effect on grip, so the easily
accessible adjuster at the base of the Öhlins units allows small, but
positive increments of fine tuning, so you can take into account every
single parameter. Sounds complicated? Nothing could be further for the
truth. Just a few clicks either way from our factory settings will soon
have your car responding precisely to your inputs and driving style.

Most of the Road & Track McPherson struts also feature camber
adjustable upper and lower mounts to give you the possibility to fine
tune your wheels for the right occasion – whether you want to go for a
ride in your neighborhood or take your car for a spin at the track on a
weekend.